I am not saying the entitlement issue is new. By sheer virtue of the fact I mentioned Parcells' quote and the 18 players from a 5-11 team with radio shows that should be obvious.
Football has changed. Years ago there were very few players who saw football as a stage for them to perform. Now that is not at all the case. The TD and sack celebrations, the big hits, the constantly on TV, and even the popularity of the Draft have taught our kids that football is the spotlight.
Well, in Dallas, Texas that spotlight shines brighter than anywhere else in the nation. The entitlement era began with the big Free Agency era, skyrocketing contracts, increased popularity of the game, and yes, Jerry Jones is a contributor to all of that.
But if you imagine that there are no players feeling entitled on a team without a visible owner then you are simply deluding yourself. I guarantee you that after winning the Super Bowl and then going 15-1 that there are Green Bay players beginning to have to fight this.
Take a player like Clay Matthews for instance. Third generation player, long hair, California surfboard looks, Pro Bowls, commercials, USC Trojans background. If you can look me in the eye and say he has no sense of entitlement at all I will laugh. But the Packers have the least visible owner in any sport because there is no single, solitary majority owner.
I guarantee you Eli Manning has lived a life where he feels entitled. Look at how he acted and forced the trade from the Chargers. Look at all the commercials.
You're telling me that is because of John Mara? I can't buy that. I believe it is a trapping of youth.
Yes, in Dallas it is easy for players to get overwhelmed by these feelings. lucky for us we have a Head Coach focusing them on the team first concepts and the leadership of our best players is showing up.
It will pay dividends.
Entitlement does not mean losses will happen. It means that players get a little full of themselves. How hard is that to do when you have women throwing themselves at you, big houses, fancy cars, jewelry, and millions of dollars in income?
I consider myself a pretty down to earth guy. I drive a pickup, work with my hands, wear jeans, t-shirts, and new balance shoes. But you give me all that, and I promise you I'm going to feel entitled. Hell, at college I didn't have any of that stuff (except the girls) but me and my teammates never had to stand in line at the lunch counter at the student union and we always got extra food. I had new shoes any time I went to the trainer and asked for them. I got the big head. I had it in HS.
I don't believe there is a player walking this earth who doesn't feel some sense of it. But I am saying Parcells is right. In Dallas because we are America's team, on TV all over the country, TV Ratings higher than anyone else, big stadium, star on the helmet...he is right it can get microwaved. He is so right.
Can we overcome it? Yes. Can it derail this team? Yes. Like I said it is a trapping of youth and fame.
What do I do when we have a rock star owner/GM? Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I certainly don't whine about it. I remember when Tex Schramm was more powerful than the NFL Commissioner, who used to work for him in Los Angeles. I don't invent scapegoats and religiously stick to them. And I certainly don't think he is the only one in the country in any sport. They've been around forever.